Corrections Officers Take “K-9 Handling” Too Far

Five face animal cruelty charges after one was filmed masturbating a dog

The heat is on five current and former Virginia Department of Corrections officers after one of them was videotaped fondling a K-9 dog.

Kelvin Thompson, 25, admitted fondling the dog but pleaded not guilty to animal cruelty, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

"Essentially, he was touching the dog's penis with his hand," [Powhatan County Commonwealth's Attorney Robert B.] Beasley said. "The others were there filming it. That's actually how we learned of it. There's a video."

Melvin Boone, 40; Adam R. Webb, 27; Cheri Campbell, 35; and Anthony Eldridge, 33, also face animal cruelty charges, the Times-Dispatch reported. They, along with Thompson, were training to become K-9 handlers at the Academy for Staff Development in Goochland County when they allegedly went that ill-advised extra mile.

The dog was not harmed, and Thompson's attorney, Terry N. Grimes, said animal cruelty will be a difficult charge to prove since the statute wasn't written with this sort of thing in mind, because Virginians try to vote for legislators who don't have this sort of thing in mind.

"I would characterize it as hazing," [Grimes] said, claiming that Thompson was told by the others, "If you masturbate your K-9 unit, you'll have greater control over it."

Not exactly the dominance training you learn for the family pet.

In videotaping the act, the officers really screwed the pooch. Another corrections officer saw the amateur bestiality porno and turned the officers in.

The incident took place over the summer, and the officers were charged Oct. 2, the Times-Dispatch reported. The misdemeanor charge carries penalties of up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Bestiality is covered by crimes against nature statutes, which can result in felony charges, but only if carnal knowledge, i.e. intercourse, is involved, Beasley said.

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